Apparatus for discharging fibrous and like materials from bulk



Nov. 23, 1954 J. M. B AKER 2,695,107

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING FIBROUS AND LIKE MATERIALS FROM BULK Filed May11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l BY G ,.W ew .m.

ATTURNEY INVENTOR NOV. 23, 1954 J AK 2,695,107

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING FIBROUS AND LIKE MATERIALS FROM BULK Filed May11, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NEY Nov. 23, 1954 J. M. BAKER2,695,107

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING FIBROUS AND LIKE MATERIALS FROM BULK Filed May11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VIII/l ATTORNEY United States PatentO iAPFARATUS FOR DISCHARGING FIBROUS AND LIKE MATERIALS FROM BULK JamesMandy Baker, Cainscross, Stroud, England, assignor to Redler ConveyorsLimited, Stroud, England Application May 11, 1953, Serial N0. 354,039

12 Claims. (Cl. 21417) This invention relates to apparatus fordischarging fibrous and like materials from bulk.

When fibrous materials such as raw cotton, hops or asbestos fibre, arestored in bulk they tend to agglomerate, more particularly at the bottomof the bin or equivalent retainer, for the material at the bottom iscompressed by the weight of the material above. As a result the smoothand controlled delivery of fibrous materials from the bottom of the bulkconstitutes a diificult problem, for such materials have no propensityto flow, or do so only in an erratic and unpredictable manner.

it is the object of the invention to provide an improved Ieeding meansfor fibrous materials which is found to operate satisfactorily and to bereadily controllable, the reeding means efficiently separating theparticles of fibrous material and delivering them in a substantiallyconstant stream.

According to the invention an apparatus for delivering fibrous materialfrom a bulk supply disposed within a container includes a rotarydetaching member formed with outward projections, which member istraversed across the bulk supply and simultaneously rotated, causing theprojections to detach particles from said bulk supply.

There is also provided, according to another aspect of the invention, anapparatus for delivering fibrous material from a bulk supply, comprisinga container bounded by a grid-like support against which the materialpresses, and rotary detaching means including a detaching member whichis moved along the outside of the grid-like support and operates todetach particles of the material so that they pass through saidgrid-like support. Preferably the detaching member operates to pulldetached particles of the material through said grid-like support. ifdesired the detaching member may comprise a rotor carrying a pluralityof projections which pass into and out of the openings of the grid-likesupport as the rotor rotates. The rotary detaching means is usuallytraversed along the grid-like support in a direction substantially atright angles to the axis of rotation of the rotary detaching means, andthe grid-like support normally forms the bottom of the container inwhich the fibrous material is disposed, the rotary disturbing memberbeing mounted underneath the grid-like support; it may, how ever, extendupwardly to form a side wall or a part ereof. Thus the grid-like supportmay comprise a series of bar members secured alongside one another inparallel spaced relationship.

Conveniently the detaching member is rotatably mounted upon carriagemeans, which latter runs upon rails extending along opposite sides ofthe grid-like support, Thus driving means for the carriage means maycomprise an endless chain or equivalent to which said carriage means isattached and which is driven with a reversing motion to cause thecarriage means to traverse forwards and backwards along the length ofthe gridlike support.

Preferably an electric motor driving the rotary detaching member isreversed at the end of each journey made by the carriage means, therebystarting the next journey in the opposite direction. The detaching meanscan comprise a rotor of elongated shape extending across the grid-likesupport, and wherein the carriage means comprise a pair of carriagemembers carrying the respective ends of the rotor, said carriage membersbeing'driven in unison to keep the rotor axis at a substantially constant angle relative to the direction of the traversing 2,695,107Patented Nov- 1 4 motion of the rotor. In the preferred arrangement eachcarriage is driven by a corresponding endless chain, and these chainsare positively connected together by motion transmitting means arrangedto keep the carriages in alignment; the motion-transmitting means maycomprise a common shaft carrying a pair of sprockets with which thechains respectively engage.

The detaching member may be rotated by any suitable means such as anendless chain extending alongside the grid-like support and runningpermanently in engagement with the detaching member, or the motion ofthe latter may be derived wholly from the traversing movement of thecarriage means.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bulk storage and discharging apparatusintended primarily for asbestos fibre;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan, the section being taken on the line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the grid-' like support anddetaching member, as viewed in the direction of the arrow A, Figure 1,and drawn to a slightly enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end sectional elevation of one of thecarriages of the detaching member, the section being taken on the line4.4 of Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the action of thedetaching member; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a modilged form ofmechanism for rotating the detaching mem- The apparatus shown in Figures1 to 5 has a bin or container ll) which is made with vertical end walls111: and side walls 11b, and is divided into two compartments 12 and 13by a double-walled vertical partition 14. The two compartments are fedwith fibrous material through inlet ducts or chutes 15 and 15respectively, the compartments serving as bulk storage means for saidmaterial. The container 10 is mounted upon a horizontal girder frame 17supported upon uprights 18 so that its bottom, which is indicated at 19is disposed at distance of say two or three feet above the groundsurface 2%.

The bottom 19 is constructed as a horizontal grid through which thefibrous material is delivered as required under the action of detachingmeans 21 which will be described hereinafter. Thus the end walls 11ahave their lower edges disposed at 22 a short distance above the bottom19 and they join corresponding outwardly extending horizontal plates 23,the outer edges of which are attached to auxiliary cross girders 24.Attached to each of the plates 23 is a series of brackets 25 composed ofshort lengths of angle material as shown more clearly in Figure 3, andto the lower edge of these a series of still bars or rods 26 are welded,said rods extending from end to end of the bottom 19 in parallel spacedrelationship to form the grid-like support carrying the weight of thematerial in the container It). At their centres the rods 26 areattached, as by welding, to a corresponding series of inverted L-shapedbrackets 25a secured to the bottom 27 of the partition 14. It will berealised that this construction provides between the rods 26 clearspaces which extend continuously from one end of the rods to the other;these spaces are indicated at 28 in Figure 3. As the walls 11a, 11b ofthe container 10 and also the partition 14 thereof are vertical andsmooth, the fibrous material disposed therein slides freely downwardsuntil it rests upon the grid-like support constituted by the rods 26,and as the material is progressively abstracted from between the rods 26by the detaching means 21, the bulk in the compartments 12 and 13correspondingly falls.

The detaching means 21 comprises a rotor which is disposed just beneaththe bottom 19 and is conveniently constructed as a roller 30 extendinghorizontally at right angles to the rods 26. It carries at closeintervals a series of projections in the form of pointed radial spikes31 as shown in Figure 2, which are so positioned that they pass upwardsinto the clear spaces 28 as the roller 39 rotates, the tips of thespikes rising higher than the tops of the rods 26. The roller 30 has anaxle portion 32 at each 3 end and these are pi'votally mounted incarriages 33 and 34 respectively by means of bearings 35. The roller isarranged to traverse the bottom 19 in the direction of the rods 26, andfor this purpose the carriages 33, 34 are provided with wheels 38 bywhich they run along rail members 36 and 37 respectively. For bringingabout this movement the carriages 33, 34 have corresponding drivingchains 39 and 40 each being attached at both ends to the correspondingcarriage at 41 so that it, with the carriage, forms an endless loop. Thechain 39 extends from the carriage 33, over a sprocket 42 fast upon across shaft 43, thence along the underneath of the rail member 36,upwards around a sprocket 44 fast upon a second cross shaft 45 and backalong the top of the rail member 36 to the carriage 33. Similarly thechain 40 passes around sprockets 46 and 47 fast upon said cross shafts43 and 45 respectively, thus keeping the carriages truly in sideby-sidealignment as they travel forwards and backwards.

The carriages 33, 34 are constructed in the manner shown in detail inFigure 4. Each comprises a fiat rectangular body 48 to the underneath ofwhich a pair of fixed axles 49 are secured, these carrying the Wheels 38by means of ball bearings 50. The corresponding rail members shown at36, comprises an H-section girder 51 with its web horizontal so that thewheels 38 are guided by the flanges thereof, guide strips 52 of invertedL- section being arranged to extend over the wheels 38 to prevent thecarriage from riding up. The bearing 35 is, of course, mounted on top ofthe body 48, as also is the attachment device 41 for the chain 39; thelower run of the chain 39 rests in a trough 53. A guard plate 54 is heldvertically by one or more brackets 55 upon the body 48 and runs close tothe side wall 11b so as to prevent fibrous material falling into therail member 36. All the details so far described also apply to thecarriage 34.

In addition the carriage 33 incorporates some of the mechanism used forrotating the roller 30. The shaft portion 32 is extended to receive asprocket 56 over the top of which an endless driving chain 57 passes. Infront and behind the sprocket 56 the carriage is fitted with a pair offreely rotatable grooved guide pulleys 58 and 59 (see Figure 2)underneath which the chain 57 passes so as to maintain a substantial arcof chain engagement around the sprocket 57. Each guide pulley 58, 59 ismounted upon a rod 60 projecting from the body 48. The arrangement ofthe driving chain 57 is shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2 and itwill be seen that its upper run extends horizontally leftwards, over anidler sprocket 61, then back horizontally to a driving sprocket 62 andback to the sprocket 56 on the roller shaft 32. In order to support thehorizontal runs of the chain 57 an upper trough 63 and a lower trough 64(Figure 4) are attached to the outside of the rail member 36.

In the apparatus illustrated the following means are used for drivingthe chain 39 to traverse the roller 30, and the chain 57 to rotate thesaid roller 30. A reversible electric motor (Figure 1) has a sprocket 71driving a large toothed wheel 72 by an endless chain 73, said wheel 72being fitted upon the shaft 74 carrying the sprocket 62. Thus theendless chain 57 is drawn around the sprocket 56 causing the spikedroller 30 to be turned continuously in the same direction as the motor70 is running. A second sprocket 75 on the shaft of the motor 70 iscoupled by a chain 76 to a sprocket 77 on the input shaft of a reductiongear unit 78 conveniently embodying a hydraulic slipping clutch orcoupling to form speed regulating means, the output shaft of the unithaving a sprocket 79 connected by an endless chain 80 to a sprocket 81fast on the cross shaft 43. Thus the chains 39, 40 connected to thecarriages 33, 34 are driven by the cross shaft 43 to travel in theopposite direction to the endless chain 57 driving the spiked roller 30;as a result the carriages 33, 34 travel along slowly beneath the bottom19 and at the same time the roller 30 is turned relatively rapidly insuch a direction that the spikes 31 at the top are advancing in thedirection opposite to that of carriages 33, 34. A reversing switch orswitch system (not shown) is provided in connection with the motor 70for the purpose of reversing its direction automatically as thecarriages 33, 34 reach the end of each journey across the bottom 19;thus the direction of rotation of the I(1)ll6l 30 is reversed to suitthe changed direction of trave The action of the detaching meanscomprising the spiked roller 30 is shown in Figure 5. The fibrousmaterial rests in a mass upon the rods 26 as indicated at 85, but itsagglomerating properties are too strong to allow any substantial amountto fall freely between the rods 26. As the roller 30 slowly advancesbeneath the bottom 19, say in the leftwards direction as shown, theroller 30 is turning clockwise so that the spikes 31 pass upwardsbetween the rods 26 and comb the fibrous material, portions of thelatter being pulled or dragged rearwards and downwards between the rodsso as to be free to fall as a shower of separated particles 86. Asuitable conveyor (not shown) is usually fitted underneath the apparatusin the space 87 between the uprights 18 and carries off the separatedfibrous material to the desired place for use, packing, treatment orother operation. The bulk material in the compartments 12, 13progressively slides down the smooth vertical walls and readily settlesupon the rods 26 of the bottom 19 as the material is gradually removedby the detaching member 30, 31. In order to avoid jamming of thematerial against the end walls 11a of the container as the roller 30reaches the end of each journey, the length of travel is so arrangedthat the roller passes beneath the havens formed by the L-shapedbrackets 25. In Figure l the roller 30 is shown in one such endposition. Thus any fibrous material being acted upon by the spikes 31can get clear before the roller reverses on its next journey.

A modified method of driving the detaching member 30, 31 is showndiagrammatically in Figure 6, a separate drive for bringing about therotation being avoided. The roller 30 is again mounted on carriages 33,34 which are moved forwards and backwards by a pair of chains 39, 40 asbefore, the same reference numerals being used in the figure, whereapplicable. A toothed rack 88 is fixed horizontally and is engaged by apinion 89 on the shaft of the roller 30 so that in this example as theroller is moved towards the right at a given speed, the spikes 31 at thetop also move towards the right but at a much greater speed. Similarlyleftward travel of the roller 30 is accompanied by speedier leftwardmovement of the top spikes 31.

It will be understood that the above details are given by way of exampleonly and that various modifications in the details of construction andthe arrangement of the parts may be made. Thus, in some cases it may bedesirable to provide two or more rollers which are arranged to operatein tandem, the spikes being so fitted as to engage the material to equaldepths, or to depths which progressively increase. If desired the spikesof the detaching means may be of curved or other shape, as best suitsthe material to be handled.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for delivering fibrous material from a bulk supply,comprising a container including a grid-like support against which thematerial presses, carriage means guided to run along a path extendingparallel with the grid-like support, rotary detaching means carried bysaid carriage means, and driving means for rotating the rotary detachingmeans as it moves with the carriage means along the grid-like support,said rotary detaching means projecting through said support to draw thefibrous material therethrough.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, having rails extending alongopposite sides of the grid-like support, and upon which the carriagemeans is mounted.

3. An apparatus for delivering fibrous material from a bulk supply,comprising a container bounded by a gridlike support against which thematerial presses, detaching means including a rotary detaching memberwhich is moved along the outside of the grid-like support and operatesto detach particles of the material so that they pass through said.grid-like support, carriage means for the rotary detaching member anddriving means for the carriage means comprising an endless chain orequivalent to which said carriage means is attached and which is drivenwith a reversing motion to cause the carriage means to traverse forwardsand backwards along the length of the grid-like support.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including an electric motor whichdrives the rotary detaching member and is reversed at the end of eachjourney made by the carriage means, the rotary detaching member therebyrotating in the opposite direction while making the next journey.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the rotary detachingmember comprises a rotor of elongated shape extending across thegrid-like support, and the carriage means comprise a pair of carriagemembers carrying the respective ends of the rotor, said carriage membersbeing driven in unison to keep the rotor axis at a substantiallyconstant angle relative to the direction of the traversing motion of therotor.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, having a pair of endless chainsdriving the respective carriage members and motion transmitting meanspositively connecting these chains together to keep the carriages inalignment.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the said motiontransmitting means comprise a common shaft, and a pair of sprocketswhich are mounted on said common shaft and with which the chainsrespectively engage.

8. An apparatus for delivering fibrous material from a bulk supply,comprising a container bounded by a gridlike support against which thematerial presses, detaching means including a rotary detaching memberwhich is moved along the outside of the grid-like support and operatesto detach particles of the material so that they pass through saidgrid-like support, and an endless chain for driving the rotary detachingmember, which endless chain extends alongside the grid-like support andengages with a sprocket driving the detaching member.

9. An apparatus for delivering fibrous material from a bulk supply,comprising a container bounded by a gridlike support against which thematerial presses, detaching means including a rotary detaching memberwhich is moved along the outside of the grid-like support and operatesto detach particles of the material so that they pass through saidgrid-like support, a fixed member, and gearing which connects the rotarydetaching member to said fixed member so that the traversing motion ofsaid rotary detaching member causes it to be rotated.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fixed membercomprises a rack, and the detaching member is provided with a pinionwhich engages and runs along said rack.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a series of containersare arranged end to end and have a common grid-like support comprisingbars extending along the series of containers to form their bottomwalls, the rotary detaching member being driven to traverse therespective containers one after the other in succession.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the rotary disturbermember is mounted upon carriage means driven to move backwards andforwards along the length of the grid-like support, and a driving motorimparts motion to the said endless chain, the rotary disturber memberbeing caused to rotate by the relative motion between this endless chainand the carriage means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,545,367 Tice July 7, 1925 1,944,271 Riedling Jan. 23, 1934

